Vibration-check for vehicles.



No- 845,088. PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907] P. M. HOTGHKIN.

VIBRATION CHECK FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15. 1905.

W A W I fw PAUL M. I'IOTCI-IKIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VIBRATION-CHECK FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb, 26, 1907.

Application filed June 15,1905. Serial No. 265,451-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL M. HOTGHKIN, a citizen ofthe United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Vibration-Checks forVehicles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a device for check- ,ing the excessivevibration or oscillation of the body of a spring-supported vehicleresulting from the wheels passing over uneven places in the roadway.

The device is especially applicableto motor-vehicles which travelrapidly and in which the weight carried by the springs, together withthe tension of the springs, causes continued vibrations of thevehicle-body,

which jolt and shock the occupants and remeet various. requirements inuse, and which will not impair the efficiency of the vehiclesprings inthe manner and to the extent that such sprin s are useful.

It is wel known that the action of the springs of a vehicle after beingdepressed in returning to their normal condition or position tend tothrow outwardly or upwardly the object to which they are attached with aforce measured by the expansive (or con tractile)capacity of thesprings. The function ofthe springs as a cuslnon to relieve the occupantand vehicle from jars incident to the drop of the wheels when passingoveran obstruction is desirable and should not be impaired; but theconverse action, which impels the occupant upward, is undesirable, andthe operation of my device is to check or neutralize this action withoutappreciably affecting the utility of the springs.

In the accompan ing drawings I have shown a preferred adaptation of theprinciples of my invention in the followingviews:

Figure 1 shows my device applied to the frame and springs of a vehicle,only portions of the latter being included. Fig. 2 is an elevation ofthe device with a portion broken away. Fig. 3 is a view, partly insection and partly in elevation, of my device with the cylinder-headremoved and the piston shown in one position; and Fig. 4 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 3, but shows the piston in a different position.

Referring to the details of the drawings, 1 represents a cylinder ofcast metal formed with an extension 1 at the upper side, in which thereis a chamber 1*. From one side of the chamber 1 a passage-way 1 leads tothe interior of the cylinder, and in the bottom of the chamber is avalve-openin 1 which communicates with the interior 0 the cylinder. Theupper end of the extension is closed by a screw-cap 2, which is formedwith a central boss 2*, which extends part way down into the chamber 1".extends inwardly from the wall of the cylinder at a point between theport 1 and passage-way 1, said wall havin formed therethrough a taperingwalled va ve-pol't 3 and terminating near the center of the cylinderwith a curved foot 3 the concave face of which serves as a bearing forthe piston, to be described. I

Arranged in the opening 1 is a checkvalve 4, which is formed with acentral upwardly-extendingstem 4, and which, together with the lug 2*,serves as a guide for an expansion coil-spring 4 mounted thereon. Theupper end of the spring bears against the cap 2 andthe lower end againstthe valve 4, so that the tension of the spring is normally exerted toforce said valve on its seat at the openin 1.

Ava ve-plug 5 has a threaded engagement with the wall of the cylinder,is formed with a tapered inner end 5% which fits and con-' trols theport 3 and is provided at its outer end with a lock-nut 5". A hollowshaft 6 is arranged at the center of the cylinder and extendslongitudinally therein. A piston 7, preferably of the form shownfissecured on the shaft 6 by a set-screw ,7, which also .7 A partition 3serves to secure within said shaft 6 a solid shaft 8. The outer ends ofthe piston are in closefrictional contact withtheinner walls of thecylinder. The shaft "8 is suitably journaled at its inner end in the endwall of the cylinder and at its outer end in .a central boss 9 on thecylinder-head 9; Said shaft also passes through a cap 9 which is screwedon the boss 9 and has its outer end squared to receive one end of a rod8*, which is secured thereon. The opposite end of the rod 8 is suitablypivoted on the frame 12 at a point directly above the center of thevehiclesprings 13.

The cylinder-head is formed with an extension 9", the end of which ispivoted on a block 10, which is secured to the center of the It will beunder-- It will be noted that in a device constructed substantially asabove described the act to return the valve to its seat.

cylinder, with its rigidly connected head and extension 9 and theshafts. 6 8, piston 7, and rod 8 form, in effect, two levers having apivotal col-elation, the action of which is controlled by the liquid inthe cylinder as it passes from one side of the piston to the other. Itwill also be observed that the valve-opening 1 is large and iscontrolled by a check-valve, which will be easily and quickly unseatedby pressure from below, while the area of the opening or port 3 may beso reduced that the passage of the liquid therethrou'gh will be slow.From-these conditions it is apparent that when the piston moves from theposition shown in Fig. 3 in the direction indicated by the arrow in saidfigure the liquid in the path of the piston will be forced through theport 1 and passage-way 1 into the cylinder on the opposite side of thepartition 3 and thatsuch movement will be quick.

The device will be so arranged that the piston will make the movementjust described when the axle drops or. in the downward movement of thevehicle-body. When the piston is in the position shown in Fig. 4 andmoves in the direction indicated by the arrow, the upward pressure onthe checkvalve will be withdrawn and the spring will the only outlet forthe liquid under pressure from the piston will be through the contractedopening around the plug 5., so'that the return movement of the pistonwill be resisted by the liquid cushion, and. thus, serve to check theupward movement of the vehicle frame or body, which is connected withthe Hence tension, as will be readily appreciated by one skilled in theart.

Though I'have shown a preferred construction-of my device, I do not wishto be limited to the details of same, as various modifications may bemade without departing from the essential elements and principles of construction and operation.

What I claim, and desire to obtain by Letters Patent, is Y 1.. In adevice of the character described, a liquid-filled cylinder adapted tobe connected with therunning-gear of a vehicle and having aeripheralextension with a liquid-passa e t erein, a radial partition-wall insaid, cylinder having an opening therein, an osc1l lating piston mountedin said cylinder and adapted to be ivotally connected with the body of avehic e and, with said partition, dividing the cylinder into twochambers in constant communication through said opening, a valvearranged in said passage and adapted to ermit the flow of liquid in onedirection 3.1 an adjustable valve controlling said opening.

2. In a device of the character described, a

cylinder connected with the running-gear of a vehicle and having aliquid passage-way ar. ranged therein, a partition extending partiallyacross said cylinder and having a port therein, an oscillating pistonadapted to be pivotally connected with thebody of a vehicle, and withsaid partition dividing said cylinder into two liquid-holdin chambers, ayielding valve arranged in said passage-way, and an adjustable valvearranged 1n sald ort. p 3. An automatic checking device for vehicles,comprising a liquid-filled cylinder adapted to be connected with therunning-gear of a vehicle, and having an extension provided with aliquid passage-wacommunicating with the interior of said cy inder, avalve arranged in said passage-way, a fixed partition extending part wayacross said cylinder and having a port therein, .an adjustable valvecontrolling said port, an oscillating piston mounted in said cylinderand together with said partition dividing the cylinder into twochambers, a shaft carrying said piston, and means ada ted to 'pivotallyconnect said shaft with t e body of a vehlcle.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' PAUL M. HOTCHKIN.

Witnesses: I

E. P. PALMER, F. BENJAMIN.

